Snow chains

I am planning on driving over to Chamonix on 17th February and wanted some advice in terms of snow chains. i will have a full set of winter tyres fitted before we go and I was thinking that 1 pair of chains would be enough, but wanted to get some opinions. I will be driving a Mercedes vito rear wheel drive.

I have driven on the continent a few times and not too concerned about general driving in France, but if anyone has advice it’d be much appreciated.

I've personally never fitted chains to snow tyres, only to standard tyres.... done it enough times with a few different designs.

Unless you are particularly unlucky, I would have thought snow tyres would see you through on the major roads around Cham. It's not like you are heading to a minor backwater at the end of some unknown valley.

In any case, roadside services + supermarkets will be well stocked at this time of year (and all season) with snow chains of all sizes for all cars - so if you do find yourself in need, they are easy enough to get hold of out there.

What he said, although my experience of mostly North America. It depends what the rules are of course, so check those. In BC if you have the right symbol on your tyres you're legal, and I've had no problems using those tyres on 2wd front wheel drive junk hire cars in multiple seasons of serious snowfall.

I wonder about chains when driving in the Alps, although my own car won't take them. But then mostly when I'm in the Alps the roads are completely clear, and "waiting for the plough" would not be the end of the world..

You would probably be fine with winter tyres but I would definitely recommend getting some chains. We have good winter tyres on all of our vehicles but still have to use chains from time to time. They don’t need to be anything too fancy but try and get some that self tighten so you don’t have to stop after 100m.

It doesn’t happen often but on will happen a few times through the season, the gendarmes will stop people who have winter tyres on and tell them to put chains on, esp if they aren’t local vehicles.

Chances are you’ll be fine but last thing you want is to be stuck somewhere

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